Respond is one of the largest housing associations in Ireland, providing social housing and homeless services. Our vision is that 'every family and individual in Ireland will have high-quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community'. We are growing rapidly in response to the housing crisis and are now looking for the right person who has the passion and skills to help us realise our vision.
Respond is committed to equal employment and growing a diverse workforce. If you do not "tick every box" there are likely other valuable attributes and skills that you have, that would make you a great fit for the organisation. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, nationalities, genders and from anyone who has historically faced social exclusion. If you feel this role is for you, then please apply
Role: Head of Estates & Commercial Services
Location:
National (incl. Hybrid working)
Reporting to: Director of Housing
Terms: Permanent Contract
Salary: €82,000 - €106,000 per year
(
Please note that offers are typically made at the beginning to mid-range of the advertised salary, based on skills and experience)
Job Purpose:
To provide strategic leadership in the design, mobilisation, delivery and continuous improvement of high-quality estate and commercial services across Respond's diverse housing portfolio. This role drives operational excellence, tenant-centred service delivery, and sustainable estate management across all tenures-including high-density estates, cost rental housing, and mixed-use developments.
Operational deployment and management of 3rd party managing agents and other outsourced services, and management of any commercial leases non-residential portfolio.
Strategic leadership and operational management of Respond's Cost Rental portfolio and services.
The role also oversees value for money and financial management for high-level estates, applying a continuous improvement approach to ensure services adapt to evolving tenant, business, and regulatory needs. Through collaboration across teams and stakeholders, the role supports Respond's vision of creating great places to live and thriving, inclusive communities.
Responsibilities
* Strategic & Operational Leadership
* Provide strategic direction as a member of the Senior Housing Leadership Team
* Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Estates and Commercial Services team ensuring a culture of collaboration, innovation and trauma informed service delivery in line with the mission and values of Respond
* Develop a long-term vision for estate services aligned with Respond's growth, mission, and values.
* Represent the Housing Directorate as necessary on strategic, cross-organisational projects to support wider business development, service integration, and long-term organisational objectives
* Estate Services, design and implementation
* To develop/ deliver high-quality, cost-effective estate services ensuring environments are safe, support vibrant communities; creating places where people would choose to live.
* To regularly engage with tenants and other stakeholders in the design, delivery, and monitoring of services, developing approaches that enable communities to have a sense of ownership in their estate environment, and are empowered to make positive changes.
* Champion community co-design approaches to promote ownership, wellbeing, and vibrant neighbourhoods.
* Lead the development of standardised estate, office and commercial specifications across all tenures.
* Ensure designs prioritise operational efficiency, sustainability, long-term maintenance, and a tenant-centred approach.
Collaborate with Development, Asset Management, Tenancy Management, and wider Respond teams to ensure consistency in design, usability, and estate functionality.
Use feedback from residents, staff, and service partners to inform design evolution and decision-making.
* Ensure Respond is meeting is regulatory and legislative responsibilities across all Estate Services
Embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in all aspects of estate and commercial operations.
* Promote sustainable practices such as biodiversity, low-carbon solutions, and circular economy initiatives.
3
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Cost Rental Service
Develop and maintain a high-quality, a market leading Cost Rental service to our tenants, ensuring that the service integrates with the wider Respond communities.
Continuously improve services through customer feedback and other insights.
Ensure effective management of service performance ensuring services are delivered within budget and that all financial and other performance standards are met.
Ensure the service evolves in line with any changing legislative changes and evolving service expectations.
Ensure effective integration of the service with the wider Respond services within the community.
Ensure timely advertising and allocation of homes in line with legislative requirements and within agreed.
* Commercial & Community Asset Management
* Create strategies to effectively manage community buildings, commercial units, and shared amenities.
* Ensure services, maintenance, and occupancy reflect community needs and support long-term sustainability.
* Drive cost recovery and reinvestment strategies to maximise the impact of local assets.
* Ensure ongoing lease compliance on an ongoing basis across the portfolio.
* Service Quality
* Ensure consistently high standards from external service providers through establishing effective quality standards.
* Ensure in-house capacity and capability in managing the various contracts effectively.
* Lead high performing, tenant focused, high quality, in house caretaking service which is embedded within the wider housing service and meets the needs of the community.
* Ensure value for money in the design and delivery of internal and external services.
* Support the delivery of effective procurement practices for all contracts and services.
* Owner Management Companies
Ensure full legal, regulatory, and policy compliance across all estates, OMC engagement, and commercial operations.
Develop and implement clear monitoring tools and reporting mechanisms to assess operational risk and ensure effective oversight, governance, and financial health of Owner Management Companies (OMCs).
* Ensure effective oversight of any relevant OMCs performance, financial health and risk.
* Work closely with colleagues across departments to ensure Respond meets its legal and regulatory requirements and achieves the best outcomes for tenants and Respond alike.
* Establish and maintain high quality Managing Agent services through robust contracts, VFM procurement and effective performance and contract management.
Work collaboratively with external stakeholders, industry bodies, and regulators to support the development and refinement of regulatory frameworks for OMCs and Managing Agents (MAs).
* Value for Money & Financial Management
* Lead the development of service budgets, cost models, and long-term financial plans across the Estates and Cost Rental functions.
* Ensure services are financially sustainable and deliver value for money for tenants and the organisation.
* Monitor and review annual and longer-term estate budgets across all key areas, working closely with the Director of Housing and Heads of Service and Finance.
* Ensure a commercial approach to the delivery of services which meets the neds of our customers, reviewing the adopted delivery models as necessary to secure increased value for money for our tenants.
* Actively identify business opportunities, developing strong and clear business cases to realise them.
* Governance, Risk & Regulatory Compliance
* Ensure full legal, regulatory, and policy compliance across all estates, OMC engagement, and commercial operations.
* Identify and manage service risks, quality standards, and contractor performance across the portfolio
* Adopt a collaborative approach in all aspects of your work, working closely with tenants, service users, contractors, colleagues and stakeholders such as AHBs and PRS sector.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications:
3rd level qualification in Property/ Facilities Management/ Asset Management/ Housing or other relevant qualification (PSRA licence / Membership of relevant professional organisation preferred).
Experience:
Minimum Of 8 Years Relevant Management Experience Post-qualification Experience
Senior leadership experience managing estates or commercial services across multi-tenure and high-density housing environments.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and projects across policy, mobilisation, digital and service transformation.
Demonstrated experience in creating and applying operational design standards for housing and estates.
Strong knowledge of ESG frameworks, regulatory housing requirements, and contract management best practice.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills with an ability to build partnerships across internal and external stakeholders.
Financial planning, value-for-money analysis, and risk management capabilities
Experience of engaging with OMCs and managing agents
Contract and performance management of external suppliers
Budget development, management and control
Engaging with a diverse range of customers and stakeholders
Service transformation/ change management
Competencies
:
Strategic Thinker
Adaptive leadership style with a growth mindset
Able to navigate complexity and uncertainty
Commercial Orientation, with a focus on the service user experience
Business planning and implementation
Skills:
Demonstrable leadership skills
Ability to take on new concepts and new ways of working
High energy and self-motivated
Empathetic approach and reflective practice skills.
Strong communication skills
Full Clean Drivers licence